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Sunday, October 30, 2011

Seek Me with All Your Heart by Beth Wiseman was sent to me as a review copy by Thomas Nelson Publishers. It is the first in the “Land of Canaan” series by this author. You can read my review of the second book in this series here.

For Emily Detweiler, moving to Canaan, Colorado, from their community in Ohio is a chance for a new start. After suffering from a brutal attack, she is struggling with her faith and what God wants for her life.

When Emily meets David Stoltzfus, another newcomer to Canaan, she is surprised to find herself drawn to him. David and his family have their own reasons for journeying to the community of Canaan, and even though David also feels drawn to Emily, they agree to just remain friends.

However, God is working in the lives of these two young people, and they just might be able to find their new beginnings together.

From the beginning of this story, I knew that this was not going to be your average Amish novel. On one hand this was a good thing, since the plot deals with some difficult situations, which were handled well. Because the Amish lifestyle is often referred to as ‘simple,’ I think we sometimes get in our heads that they don’t have to deal with anything difficult, which, of course, is untrue. The characters in this book faced difficult decisions and were in complicated situations and struggled with their faith just as everyone does at some time.

On the other hand, this novel did not seem as authentic to me at times. Now, I am not an expert on the Amish faith or lifestyle. I only know what I have read from a few other books, and I am sure that the author has done her research. But some of the traditions and interactions among the Amish people felt more “English” than Amish. Maybe this is because they are dealing with situations that I have not read about much in other Amish novels. Maybe it is because the setting of this novel is not traditionally Amish (which I actually like, by the way). Or maybe it is because, besides the obvious (not using electricity, etc.), there seemed to be a lot of leniency in this particular Amish community, especially when it came to outsiders.

While there are a lot of characters in this novel, and many of them tell the story from their point of view, I kept up with them fairly well. I enjoyed the different perspectives, and I knew the other characters were being set up to have their stories told in subsequent books. However, having not read any previous novels by Beth Wiseman, I felt a little left out at times, as if I was missing something somewhere. It seemed as if she had to do a lot of retelling of the back-story in order to get me caught up. I was not aware that this series is a continuation of her earlier series.

Because Seek Me with All Your Heart deals with more complicated situations, it is a fairly strong start to a new series by popular Amish fiction author, Beth Wiseman.

I will give Seek Me with All Your Heart … 3 BookWorms.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Katie Ann lost the love of her life. Then God offers her a new beginning in Colorado.

Katie Ann Stolzfus lives in the small Amish community of Canaan, Colorado. At forty she is widowed and raising her first child. But baby Jonas will never know his father, and Katie Ann wonders if her Heavenly Father hasn't forgotten about her as well. Is it really God's plan for her to be a single parent?

Eli Detweiler has come to Canaan for a wedding and a long vacation. Having raised six children following the death of his young wife, Eli is finally an empty-nester. He's enjoying the slower pace of having no one to care for but himself.

When Katie Ann and Eli meet, there is an instant connection. Yet as strong as the attraction is, they both acknowledge that a romance would never work. He is done parenting, while she has just begun. But as their friendship slowly blossoms into feelings that are as frightening as they are intoxicating, Katie Ann and Eli question if the plans they made for themselves are in line with God's plans.

Can Katie Ann entrust her heart to another man, and rediscover the wonder of God's love?

Beth Wiseman is hailed as a top voice in Amish fiction. She is a Carol-award winner and author of numerous bestsellers including the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. She and her family live in Texas.

I recently read this first book in this series (you can read that review here), so as I began this one, I felt comfortable with the characters and I was very familiar with what was going on in the continuing stories. That is one thing that I really like about reading books in a series.

I also like the characters in this book, especially Katie Ann and Eli. Katie Ann’s character was so well-developed in the first book that I just went right along with her in her story. I loved the humor Eli’s character displayed, and I enjoyed reading about how good he was with children after rearing six children on his own.

Yet I felt as if I was reading a very similar storyline to the one I had read in the previous book. Although the main characters are dealing with different backgrounds and situations, it seemed that the same factor was keeping them apart…that they think they should just be friends, no matter their availability and attraction. It just didn’t make as much sense this time around. With the characters in the first book, they were younger and didn’t talk openly much at all until closer to the end. With Katie Ann and Eli, they are older and had talked through their situation extensively. They seemed to be acting like teenagers rather than middle-aged folks.

Also, this novel did not seem as authentic to me as other Amish novels at times. Now, I am not an expert on the Amish faith or lifestyle. I only know what I have read from a few other books, and I am sure that the author has done her research. But some of the traditions and interactions among the Amish people felt more “English” than Amish. Maybe this is because they are dealing with situations that I have not read about much in other Amish novels. Maybe it is because the setting of this novel is not traditionally Amish (which I actually like, by the way). Or maybe it is because I have a really hard time thinking that an Amish bishop would be okay with his people having cell phones! (Just for conversation…not for emergencies or business).

While it might not seem as if I enjoyed this novel very much, I actually was interested in the story. I feel as if I was able to pick up a few hints as to what the next book will be about. I am interested in seeing what happens in Canaan, Colorado, in the next book in the series.

I will give The Wonder of Your Love … 3 BookWorms

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The Party:﻿

The Wonder of Your Love Facebook Party on 11/1!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through LitFuse Publicity. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Friday, October 28, 2011

Jobless, homeless, and broke, Camden Bristow decides to visit the grandmother she hasn’t seen in years. But when Camden arrivers in Etherton, Ohio, she discovers that her grandmother has passed away, leaving her the 150-year-old mansion on Crescent Hill. The site of her happiest summers as a child, the run-down mansion is now her only refuge. When Camden finds evidence that she may not be the mansion’s only occupant, memories of Grandma Rosalie’s bedtime stories about secret passageways and runaway slaves fuel her imagination.

What really happened at Crescent Hill? Who can she turn to for answers in this town full of strangers? And what motivates the handsome local Alex Yates to offer his help?

As she works to uncover the past and present mysteries harbored in her home, Camden uncovers deep family secrets within the mansion’s walls that could change her life – and the entire town – forever.

Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of The Black Cloister, Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana; and Together for Good. A former corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family, Melanie has worked in the fields of journalism and publicity for more than eighteen years. She and her family live in Oregon.

My Take:

I have been reading a lot of Amish fiction and historical fiction lately, so I was glad to have a little change of pace with Refuge on Crescent Hill. This novel includes historical elements such as references to the Underground Railroad, so I was able to enjoy a contemporary book without straying too far from my favorite genre of historical fiction.

Refuge on Crescent Hill is told from four people’s perspectives about the mysteries surrounding Crescent Hill. At first I was afraid the different points of view would get confusing, but I actually enjoyed getting the whole story as it unfolded. Since the reader does follow the different perspectives, you tend to know everything as it is discovered by each person, rather than just as one person discovers it. Because of this, I wouldn’t call it a hard-core suspense novel that leaves you guessing until the end; the twists and turns along the way were revealed more gradually. However, I enjoyed this way of telling the story.

I sometimes felt that the characters were repeating themselves a lot during their thoughts. I realize that we are following them during an intense period of time in their lives, and their focus is mainly on the house and what is going on in the town. But, it sometimes felt as if I was reading the same thoughts today that Camden had had yesterday and the day before. So, it felt a little repetitive in between the twist and turns and revelations.

Although I felt this repetitiveness at times, I was still engrossed in the story. I love when contemporary books explore a mystery that happened hundreds of years ago, and the way all the stories came together was really interesting. I also appreciated that the romance in this novel was present, yet understated, more like it would happen in real life. It didn’t feel sappy to me, which I really respect in a contemporary novel.

Refuge on Crescent Hill is a novel that has it all:mystery, romance, compassion, history, and above all, hope.

I will give Refuge on Crescent Hill … 4 BookWorms.

Disclosure of Material Connection:I received this book free from Kregel Publications through their blog tour program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

A Most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Grace Whitson was sent to me as a review copy by Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group.

What is a young, respectable lady in 1869 to do after the deaths of both her mother and her father? Find a suitable match, of course, which is exactly where we find Fannie Rousseau at the beginning of this novel. But Fannie wants more from her life than to marry some stuffy bachelor just for his money. She wants to find true love.

When Fannie learns of a long-kept family secret, she impetuously boards a steamboat headed north from St. Charles, Missouri, to the frontier territory of Montana. On board, she meets Samuel Beck, a man on his own search for the truth, and the two form a somewhat unlikely friendship.

In the weeks and months ahead, Fannie and Samuel encounter more on their trip than they ever dreamed, both good and tragic. They discover far more than their family secrets; they discover the true path to faith and to love.

“You can’t judge a book by its cover” is the phrase I will use to sum up this book. At first glance (from the cover and from the first few chapters) I thought this would be the usual historical romance about the parents wanting their daughter to find a wealthy husband to save them from their financial ruin, etc. While the novel did seem to start out this way, once Fannie boarded the steamboat heading for Montana, the story took off to a place I wasn’t expecting (in a good way).

The romance between Fannie and Samuel went at a good pace. They had an attraction for each other, and they pursued a friendship, but they also traveled their own paths before considering the possibility of coming back to each other. The secondary characters in this book were also well-developed, which made the novel have more depth to it. I was not expecting the adventure of the rugged Montana territory (the back cover did not do a great job at previewing this book…), but it was a nice surprise.

I am left wondering a bit after reading this story why Fannie and Samuel were considered an “unsuitable match.” Fannie’s family and Samuel’s actual family were of the same social standing. (Since Samuel left his home, I am assuming that he would now be considered penniless and not worthy of a society girl.) I also disagreed with the ‘back-of-the-book’ description that Samuel and Fannie are “opposites in every way.” From the beginning, I thought they were anything but opposites! They seemed to have the same thinking on things, they both had good hearts (even though Fannie’s compassion does have room to grow, considering the way she was raised), and they are both searching for true faith. Besides the fact that every time you turned around Fannie seemed to be fainting, and Samuel was fairly rugged from the beginning, they seemed to be a good match to me!

The Bible verses that begin each chapter and are related to the story were enjoyable, but what I appreciated even more was how the characters in this novel learned to use Scripture to navigate their daily lives. How refreshing it was to see a Christian novel that had characters that turned to the word of God for their faith rather than relying on their feelings or their knowledge or their circumstances. My favorite example of this is when Fannie is thinking to herself about how Samuel believes in God.

“It seemed that his mother had had a kind of faith that took the words out of that book and put them into the decisions she made in her life. That was a far different kind of faith than Fannie knew. She prayed…but she was never certain anyone was listening. What would her life look like if she were more certain? What if she actually sought out the words in the Bible and let them rule her life? The idea was at once fascinating…and terrifying.”

Just as I judged this book by its cover, there is also a theme running through this novel that relates to not judging people by their appearances. Fannie learns that this is true when looking at others, but that it is also true in her own life. God used the most unlikely people in the Bible to do extraordinary things, and He can use each one of us today.

This is the first novel I have read by Stephanie Grace Whitson, but I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

I will give A Most Unsuitable Match … 4 BookWorms.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Recently my husband took our daughter to Daddy-Daughter Date Night at Chick-fil-A. Here is the story of their experience.

Okay, Chick-Fil-A is the best restaurant in the world.“Wait”, you say.“Chick-Fil-A isn’t really a restaurant.It’s fast food.That doesn’t count.”O, contraire mon ami.Let me tell you about my date night with my daughter, Isabella.

Sara took Isabella to CFA for breakfast one day during the week last month.While there, she happened to see a sign that said they were going to host a Daddy/Daughter Date night.Sara thought it might be something I would be interested in, so she mentioned it to me.Now, for those of you who don’t know, I take (two-and-a-half-year-old) Isabella to McDonald’s every Saturday morning for breakfast.It is our time to talk (even though the conversation is somewhat thin at this age) and spend time together just the two of us.So, I thought that going to CFA would be a nice change of pace.

I looked it up online and saw that they required me to make a reservation.???Really?Okay.That is kind of strange, but alright.Once I made the reservation, they sent an invitation to me and told me to bring it to our date night.Wow.Maybe this is a bigger deal than I thought.Great.Now I am nervous.Is anyone else going to be there?What should I wear?Is this a dress up thing?What if I dress up and nobody else does?What if I don’t and everyone else does?GREAT!

Then Sara told me to get a grip and helped bring me back to reality.This isn’t about everyone else, this is about me spending quality time with my daughter and developing a relationship with her that will last for her entire life.Right, right.I did just read Courageous, didn’t I?I should know that.Okay, I am not nervous anymore.I am actually getting excited.

Finally, our date night arrives. Sara helped Isabella get dressed in a nice jumper that happens to be one of my favorites.The matching hat is very cute and also helpful for Daddy.Now I don’t have to try to keep her hair in her bow all night. JI decide to wear my nice jeans and a polo shirt.We pile into the van and head to CFA, wishing Mama a good night.

I am still wondering what this night is going to be like when we pull into the parking lot.The first thing I see is a stretch limo sitting there.Whoa!Someone is taking this WAY more seriously than I am.We shall see.As we walk in, I notice that there is a red carpet laid out at the door.We are instantly greeted by a hostess at a podium who asks if I am here for the date night and if she can have my invitation.I hand it to her and she asks for my name and Isabella’s name.Isabella tells the hostess her full name. Adorable.The hostess says hi to her and asks if she would like a flower.It is at that point that I notice the 6 buckets of roses around the hostess podium.Isabella gets to pick one out!She picks a budding pink rose, and the hostess hands it to her.She then takes the two of us around the corner and announces, “Wesley and his little princess, Isabella”.All of the dads turn and smile.I return the smile and I know I am in for a great night.

I am led through the mass of fathers and daughters to my table.Now, for those of you familiar with our CFA, the section in front of the restrooms was completely set apart for this night.Every table was full of dads and their daughters (some with more than one).Each table was covered with a black table cloth with a battery operated candle (that flickered) and some flowers.There were paper place mats, menus, and a small booklet talking about the night.I was sitting there taking it all in, when my waitress showed up and asked for my drink order!This is too cool.So, I order our drinks and notice that at the table next to us is one of our friends (and one of Isabella’s teachers at church).We talk for a bit until our waitress comes back to deliver our drinks and take our order.Man, this is so cool.She leaves and the hostess makes an announcement that the limo is about to go on its next run if anyone would like to go.What?Okay, so this is too much.CFA hired the limo!We all get to go on rides after we eat!My friend at the next table just ordered ice cream for his girls and they got to take it on the ride!This is so neat!!

Our food came and it was the normal CFA fair.While we were eating, I looked around and saw many men from our church in attendance with their daughters.It was very encouraging to see so many men out with their girls trying to build better relationships with them.Our waitress checked on us several times throughout the night to make sure everything was okay.We got a visit by the hostess and by the manager himself.I made sure to pay my compliments to everyone that this was a great night.We were invited to go on the limo ride when we were done eating, too.

During the meal, the hostess made an announcement that she had a special presentation curtsey of CFA, and she sang to us.She sang Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman.I don’t know if you are familiar with this song or not.If not, watch the video posted below, and bring a hanky.I had heard it once before, so I knew what was coming.But, I had just recently finished reading Courageous(See my review here).In the book (spoiler alert) the dad is asked by his 9-year-old-daughter to dance in public.He refuses because he would be embarrassed.Well, in the next scene she dies in a car accident and he feels guilty about not dancing with her for the rest of the book.So, add that to the song and the fact that the hostess is walking around and actually sings to Isabella, and I about lost it.

Throughout the rest of the meal, Isabella and I used the placemats as conversation starters.That’s right, the placemat.CFA made special placemats that had topics of conversation for us dads to have with our daughters.Of course, our conversation was a little one-sided, but it was still very cool.The booklet that was also on the table was full of more conversations to have and ways to keep building our relationship after the date was over.

As we finished dinner, Isabella decided to play on the playground instead of going for a limo ride.I was a bit disappointed, but hey, watching her go down the slide is just as fun.We went home that night having had a great time and a lasting memory for Daddy.Isabella showed her flower to Mama and we put it in a vase on the table.She pointed it out to anyone who came over and let them all know that it was her flower.

It was a great night and a memory I will not soon forget. I hope Chick-fil-A does this again.I will certainly attend.I hope all of you dads out there will go too.You won’t regret it.

Monday, October 24, 2011

It's Christmas weekend 1949, and despite the threat of a storm, the townspeople of Frost, Minnesota, are determined to continue their holiday traditions, if only as a means to forget the war that they all just suffered through. But the suffering hasn't ended for Dottie Morgan who lost her only son in the war. She's preparing to wallow in her isolation for the weekend, when Violet, nearly a spinster at age 29, dares to make a request that will force Dottie to publicly revive the memory of her dead son.

When a storm traps the two women at home with a strange young man who has an unbelievable confession and a neighbor with more to do with Dottie's past than she would like, no one can predict how this Christmas will give them all a second chance.

Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia, Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota’sbeautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church.

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: Discover, Create and Publish the Novel in You!.She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!)

Normally I am not someone who seeks out Christmas books to read. I love Christmas, of course, I just don’t usually enjoy reading the sappy stories that come with most books about Christmas. Since I started my blog, however, this is the fourth Christmas book I have read, and I have two more on my list for this year!

When I saw this Christmas book by Susan May Warren, I knew I had to give it a try, since she is fast becoming a new favorite author of mine.

I was not disappointed.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside has the excellent character development that I have come to expect from Susan May Warren. I felt the hopelessness of each character as they told their stories. Every character in the book brought forth some type of emotion, whether happy or sad or sweet or frustrating.

But along with these feelings of hopelessness came the gradual realization by each character that their hope should be in Christ. This novel wonderfully tells of renewed hope, forgiveness, and second chances. I also liked how these people came together to form a friendship that would last beyond their time together at Christmas.

Those of you who enjoy the sentimentality that comes with Christmas stories, you will also not be disappointed. This novel comes complete with a Christmas miracle. (It bordered on too sappy for me, but I will forgive Ms. Warren in this since the rest of the story was so good!)

For an excellent read this Christmas season, give Baby, It’s Cold Outside a try. And you, too, can go around your house for days singing….”I really can't stay… Baby it's cold outside…” and think fondly of that scene from Elf!

I will give Baby, It’s Cold Outside by Susan May Warren … 4 BookWorms

About the Contest:

Warm up to Chrismtas early this year with Susan May Warren's Baby, It's Cold Outside! To celebrate the release of her new Christmas book with Summerside Press, she and the publisher are giving away a Kindle Fire and hosting an early Christmas Party on Facebook!

One festive winner will receive:

A brand new Kindle Fire

Baby, It's Cold Outside by Susan May Warren

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. Giveaway ends on 10/26!

But, wait there’s more! Join Susan May Warren on 10/27 for merriment and a few early Christmas presents at her Baby, It's Cold Outside Christmas party! Grab your Christmas sweaters, socks and pj’s and join Susan and a few friends for a fireside chat about her recent books (Heiress & Baby, It’s Cold Outside), holiday traditions, favorite Christmas recipes, a trivia contest and more! Invite your friends and don’t miss the fun!RSVP here and we'll see you on October 27th at 5 PM PST / 8 PM EST!

Disclosure of Material Connection:I received this book free from Summerside Press through LitFuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Just in Case You Ever Wonder by Max Lucado is a children's book that was sent to me for review by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

About the Book:

A timeless children's classic by best-selling author, Max Lucado, that reinforces the love of a parent.

There are certain words that every child longs to hear . . . affirmation of unconditional love, promises of support, and words of encouragement. Just in Case You Ever Wonder wraps your children in its tender message of love, comfort, and protection, showing them that as they grow and change, you'll always be there for them—whether it's "monsters in the closet" or hard times when other kids are mean. Beloved author, Max Lucado, helps express unconditional love for a child—simply, powerfully, and forever.

My Take:

I was glad to be able to request another children's book to review, as we read with our daughter every day, and it is always nice to have new things to read! I was also looking forward to a children's book by Max Lucado. I have read his adult study books before, and I thought it would be neat to see what he had to say in a children's book.

We were not disappointed. This is a sweet affirmation from parent to child of ongoing love and care. It further points to how God's love for her is even more phenomenal. I loved how at the end of the book the author points to heaven and how wonderful it will be for us to be there together.

One caution I have is that there are mentions of protecting our children from 'monsters in the shadows,' and there is a slightly scary picture on that page. This would probably not be a big deal for kids age four and older, but our two year old got a little scared when we would come to that page. We try to avoid talking about monsters at all, since that just puts the idea in her head even more.

Overall, this is a lovely story that seems to truly come from the heart of the author.

I will give Just in Case You Ever Wonder ... 4 BookWorms.

Disclosure of Material Connection:I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through their blogging program, BookSneeze. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The Lightkeeper’s Ball by Colleen Coble was sent to me as a review copy by Thomas Nelson Publishers. It is the final book in the Mercy Falls series by this author. You can read my review of the first book in this series, The Lightkeeper's Daughter, here, and my review of the second book, The Lightkeeper's Bride, here,

Olivia Stewart has been fortunate to be raised in one of the most elite families in New York. Since the future of her family’s wealth now hangs in the balance, Olivia’s mother demands nothing less than a ‘good match’ in Olivia’s choice of a husband.

Olivia’s sister, Eleanor, was engaged to Harrison Bennett, a wealthy bachelor who lives in Mercy Falls, California. With Eleanor’s untimely death, Olivia is expected to step up and take her place. Olivia is suspicious of the circumstances surrounding Eleanor’s death, so she journeys to Mercy Falls under an alias to find out what really happened to her sister. On arriving in Mercy Falls, Olivia is unprepared for what takes place, and Harrison is not who she suspected he would be.

When the lighthouse in Mercy Falls is destroyed in a storm, Olivia is quick to organize a masquerade ball to raise the funds to rebuild. But the ball will reveal secrets surrounding Olivia’s family that she might not want discovered, including her own identity. Olivia will have to decide what is most important – fulfilling the expectations of her family or following her heart.

The third book in the Mercy Falls series started the same way as the previous books—I was interested in the story immediately. Colleen Coble has no problem just jumping right into the story. While this sometimes makes it a little difficult to keep the new characters straight, I still think it is fun to be drawn in to the tale right away. What made these characters most confusing for me was that there were two Mr. Bennetts…Harrison and his father.

I was also a little confused as to when this story was actually taking place. Because I had read the previous books and from context clues, I was able to figure out that it was taking place around 1910. Maybe I am being picky, but I prefer to be told exactly what year and time of year the book is taking place. These books tended to be rather vague about that.

As I mentioned in my review of the first book, I felt the two main characters in all three books fell ‘in love’ too quickly. The whole story takes place over just a month or so and yet they are already in love. Considering their circumstances, this may be believable; it is just hard for my more practical mind to understand. The dangers that are encountered are again sometimes unbelievable (it seems as if these characters survive falling off cliffs and drowning A LOT!), but it does provide for a great storyline. Pure entertainment.

Even though I am bringing up some issues that I had with this book, I actually did enjoy it. The mystery was once again engrossing, and it had so many twist and turns. I didn’t figure it out until almost the very end, and even then I was unsure about a couple of things until they were completely revealed.

I also liked the character of Olivia. She has such an adventurous spirit that had been stifled by the environment in which she was raised. She feels pressure to meet the expectations of her mother, but she longs for adventure and to use the gifts that God has given her, as a woman and as a human being. Although I felt her transition from ‘just going to church’ to full faith in God was a little glossed over, I felt towards the end that she did understand in Whom she should trust.

Overall, I really enjoyed the Mercy Falls series from Colleen Coble, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

I will give The Lightkeeper’s Ball … 4 BookWorms.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Lightkeeper’s Bride was sent to me by Thomas Nelson Publishers as a review copy. It is the second book in the Mercy Falls series by Colleen Coble. You can read my review of the first book, The Lightkeeper's Daughter, here.

Katie Russell enjoys her life as a telephone operator living in Mercy Falls, California. While working the phone lines one evening, she overhears a possible kidnapping of a friend, and she rushes to investigate. Katie’s search leads her to befriend Will Jesperson, the new lighthouse keeper in Mercy Falls. As the two get more involved in solving the crime, Katie and Will realize that their partnership might lead to something more.

Although Katie is attracted to Will, she has known all her life that her parents expect her to marry well and secure their financial situation. A lowly lighthouse keeper is not what Katie’s parents would consider ‘marrying well,’ and so she is pushed toward another.

As Will and Katie discover more secrets surrounding the town of Mercy Falls, they will need to have the courage to face the danger and the faith to follow their hearts.

This is only the third book I have read by Colleen Coble, but I think she will be an author I will seek out in the future. I really liked the suspense/mystery aspect of this novel. With a kidnapping, an abandoned child, secrets from the past, and even pirates, this story was complicated but engaging.

As for the characters, I really liked the character of Will. I felt this character was well-developed and had more personality than the main male character in the first novel.His faith in God was solid, too. Although I thought Katie sometimes acted too impulsively, that trait made her more realistic as opposed to the way I felt about the character of Addie in the first novel. As I mentioned in my review of the first book, I felt the two main characters in all three books fell ‘in love’ too quickly. The whole story takes place over just a month or so and yet they are ready to be married by the end. (Oops…did I give it away? I’m thinking you can tell how this one is going to end up from the title of the book!) Granted, they go through some pretty perilous situations, and going through those types of things can make you realize what you want a lot more quickly than normal.

For me, this book was just fun. It was like reading an adventure story with pirates and secrets and buried treasure. The dangers that are encountered are sometimes unbelievable (it seems as if these characters survive falling off cliffs and drowning A LOT!), but it does provide for a great storyline. Actually, that is what I want from a book – entertainment. When books are too real, that is when I find them depressing, and I get disinterested.

Historical fiction is my favorite genre of book to read, and when you throw in a mystery, I like it even more. The Lightkeeper’s Bride was all of these things and more.

I will give The Lightkeeper’s Bride … 4 BookWorms

Disclosure of Material Connection:I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Friday, October 14, 2011

My husband and I really enjoyed the movies "Facing the Giants" and "Fireproof" so I was excited to see that a new movie from the creators of the previous movies was coming out. Then I saw that a novelization of the movie was available through Tyndale Publishers. I requested this novelization of the movie "Courageous", and Wesley and I read it together.

Because of an event that took place in the book, I was not able to finish it. This is rare for me, as it really bothers me to not finish a book I am reading. But, the main storyline in this book, if I allowed myself to dwell on it, would cause me to be fearful. Continuing with this story would have made me dwell on it, so, Wesley agreed to finish the book and do the review for me.

Here it is:

This is a review of the book “Courageous” by Randy Alcorn, Alex Kendrick, and Stephen Kendrick.It is an adaptation of the movie that recently came out – from the same group of people who released Facing the Giants and Fireproof.My wife and I enjoyed both of those movies so we thought we would enjoy reading the book about the third movie.

This book focuses on five guys, four of whom are police officers in Albany, Georgia.Each of them is a father of various skills and relationships levels.They range from heavily involved with their families to an ignored one-night-stand.When tragedy strikes one of them, it affects them all.Will they turn to God and become the fathers that He wants them to be, or will they decide it is too hard, and risk losing their kids forever?

***SPOILER ALERT***

I know, I know.It is the very first paragraph of my review.But, I feel it needs to be said.So, if you don’t want to know the big surprise, skip this paragraph.I promise the rest will be fine.Sara and I started reading this book together aloud.However, about a third of the way through the book, one of the police officers loses his little girl in a car accident.This was very hard for us to read, and Sara said she couldn’t go on with the book. Novels are not important enough to cause my wife to be fearful, so I agreed to read it for her.(We don’t watch horror movies for this reason, also.) After having read the book, I don’t think they needed to kill the little girl.Let her get hurt or be in a coma, but nothing quite so drastic and devastating.Maybe the writers of the movie were trying to be as extreme as they could be in order to wake people up. I understand that, but I think it was too much.

***SPOILER OVER***

As for the rest of the book, it was okay.I think this is one of those rare instances where the movie is probably going to be better than the book.To be fair, this isn’t a book that was turned into a movie.This was a movie that was turned into a book.That doesn’t often work out too well.

There were some very funny moments in this book.The interactions between one of the police officers and a manual laborer he hired to help with some work around his house were hilarious.But, the interactions between the rest of the officers felt forced and unnatural.I kept thinking that people don’t talk like this.I sometimes felt the same way watching the two previous movies, but it was more awkward reading it in a book.

I will say that I liked the message of the book.I think it is very important to be a good father to your children.The fathers in this book agree to a resolution that basically says they are going to be good fathers.They just touch on the contents of the resolution, but you can purchase the book online that goes into much more detail.(http://courageousresources.com/individualresources)

Overall, I thought this book was okay.I agree that I need to be a good father, and I learned some do’s and don’ts from this book, but I think more is needed on my part.I think that people will probably enjoy the movie more than the book, but I haven’t seen it, so I can’t be sure about that.

I do know one thing for sure.If my daughter ever asks me to dance, I definitely will.

I give this book 2.5 bookworms.

I am so appreciative to my wonderful husband for finishing this book for me! And you are an amazingDad to our daughter!

Disclosure of Material Connection:I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers through their Blog Network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thursday, October 13, 2011

All she wanted was a simple Amish life . . . But now Marianna Sommer finds herself depending on Englisch neighbors. Although proud of living apart from the world, she and her newly relocated Amish family have discovered that life in the remote mountains of Montana requires working together.

As Marianna begins helping those different from herself—and receiving their help—her heart contemplates two directions. She’s torn between the Amish man from Indiana whom she has long planned on marrying and the friendly Englischer who models a closer walk with God than she’s ever seen before.

Who should have young Marianna’s heart? What is God asking her to sacrifice? Her traditions? Her community? The answer is found along the wooded paths.

Tricia Goyer is the author of thirty books including Songbird Under a German Moon, The Swiss Courier, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas, where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

Since I knew I would be posting for this blog tour today, I decided to review the first book in this series also. You can read that review here. I really enjoyed the first book, and I will even go so far to say that it is the best Amish fiction book that I have read.

The second book in the “Big Sky” series, Along Wooded Paths picks up where we left off in the first book. Marianna has returned to Montana because that is where she feels she needs to be right now. However, she doesn’t know that Aaron, her beau from back in Indiana, has plans to make a trip out to Montana to visit her. Marianna is still sorting through her feelings for Ben, and having Aaron so close will force her to make a decision between the two.

The elements from the first book that I loved are still present in this one. No other Amish novel that I have read has made the points that these books do. It seems as if most other Amish fiction comes solely from the perspective of the Amish, and it is not often that anyone mentions ‘the elephant in the room’: the fact that there can be salvation if you are not Amish. I loved one particular scene in Along Wooded Paths when Marianna is caring for a four-year-old English girl. The little girl asks if God is mad at her mother because she doesn’t wear a kapp. Marianna replies that no, of course that is not the case. Marianna says, “No, you can love Jesus and not wear a kapp.” Some, not all, of the Amish books I have read seem as if they are saying that there is no salvation outside of the Amish faith.

My favorite line in this novel was in a letter from Marianna to her brother: “But the men and women I’ve been able to know here are different from us by lifestyle, but same by heart.” That sums up my feelings exactly. If you know Jesus, you can be Amish or English by lifestyle, but you are the same in Him.

Another thing I appreciated about this novel is the comparison between what Marianna faces as a young Amish/Christian woman and what Ben faces as a young Christian man. Marianna was raised to avoid certain things, worldly things, and she does sometimes struggle to do so. But, Ben, as a young Christian man, finds that he needs to avoid worldly things as well. We as Christians are called to life a life worthy of our calling, even though we do this differently than the Amish.

Aside from these things that I liked, this second book in the “Big Sky” series seemed to be a little bit ‘long’ compared to the first one. There was not as much action in it (even though there were two car accidents and one buggy accident…very rough place to drive a car or buggy in the winter!). It was mostly focused on the inner turmoil of Marianna trying to decide between Ben and Aaron. It got a little tiring after a while. I am glad that she did make a decision at the end of the book, but I have a feeling that is not the end of the story, since there is at least one more book coming out!

While it was a little bit slower-paced than the first one, Along Wooded Paths is still a great choice in Amish fiction.

I will give Along Wooded Paths by Tricia Goyer … 3 ½ BookWorms.

About the party:

Come to a Facebook Party and Live Author Chat!

Tricia is celebrating the release of Along Wooded Paths with a Fabulous Facebook party on October 18th. She'll be giving away prizes and a sneak peak at the next book in the Big Sky series.

Then during the second half of the party she'll be hosting a LIVE AUTHOR CHAT on her website and announcing something BIG! CLICK the button (below) to RSVP for the party - then go here to sign up for the Live Author Chat.

Disclosure of Material Connection:I received this book free from B&H Publishing Group and Litfuse Publicity. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”